Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Seattle?

Juneau, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Juneau than in Seattle?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Seattle?

Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Juneau vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,530 in Juneau, AK versus $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Juneau, AK is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $100,513 in Juneau, AK and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 18% higher in Seattle, WA. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Juneau, AK

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$993

$1,638

+65% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,257

$1,858

+48% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,647

$2,359

+43% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,949

$2,918

+50% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$432,500

$912,100

+111% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$100,513

$121,984

+21% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$72,610

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.8 yr

35.5 yr

+4.3 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.4%

44.2%

+20.2 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

67.5%

+27.0 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

15.8 min

26.6 min

+10.8 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

515.6

788.6

+53% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

2,113.1

5,108.8

+142% in Seattle, WA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

42.1°F

53.5°F

+11.4°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

37.7 in

+24.6 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$5.41/gal

+4% in Seattle, WA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

14.9

+47% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$21.34

+23% in Seattle, WA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / WA)

None

6.5%

+6.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Juneau vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Seattle?: Juneau, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Juneau than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Seattle?: Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).